Traction in the Tunnel and ground operations at Frethun, the first activities for Europorte 2

Eurotunnel’s rail freight subsidiary began operations at the end of November 2007. It is now responsible for freight train traction between Dollands Moor and Frethun, as well as ground operations for the latter. In the short term, Europorte 2 aims to develop through its position as a new local operator.

Eurotunnel’s rail freight subsidiary,Europorte 2, was granted its licence by the French Ministry of Transport this is valid across Europe. With Europorte 2, Eurotunnel now has the opportunity to diversify its growth beyond its core business as the concession operator of the Tunnel infrastructure and Shuttle services, capitalising on 14 years’ experience of railway operations and maintenance.

Eurotunnel 2 is also a key instrument for the Group in re-launching rail freight traffic between the UK and the Continent.

Throughout 2007, the last important steps leading to the operational launch of Europorte 2 were navigated successfully, including the preparation and submission of technical packs for French and UK Rail Safety/Security Agencies, as well as the Eurotunnel safety/security services, driver selection, training drivers for Class 92 locomotives and ground staff, installation of maintenance facilities for these engines, and testing.

Europorte 2 was therefore able to launch operations on 26 November 2007, an historic date for the Group. At this stage it involves two broad activities.

Firstly, to the benefit of other rail companies, Europorte 2 provides ground operations at the rail yard in Frethun (Pas-de-Calais). This includes coupling and uncoupling locomotives, safety inspections for freight trains, assistance for security controls, and administrative document management (consignment notes, train content documents, etc).

Secondly, Europorte 2 also provides traction for SNCF freight trains –under an outsourcing agreement but also on request – for EWS and ECR between Dollands Moor (Kent) and Frethun via the Tunnel. To meet this objective, 11 specialised Class 92 locomotives equipped to cross the Tunnel and operate throughout the UK rail network have been, or are being, acquired and renovated.

Technologically, these Class 92 locomotives are very similar to the Brush locomotives that Eurotunnel uses for the traction of Passenger and Truck Shuttles. With a top speed of 140 kph and six axles in two bogies, they are double-cab, double-voltage locomotives able to run on 750 V DC from a third rail for UK operations and on 25 kV, 50 Hz AC from overhead lines by pantograph in the Tunnel and on the French network to Frethun.

They carry two signalling systems, TVM 430 (Transmission Voie Machine used by Eurostar TGV and all Eurotunnel trains), and AWS (Automatic Warning System for the UK network). These are therefore the only locomotives capable of train traction between Frethun and Dollands Moor, the two stations connecting the French and UK networks, and can also run on the UK third-rail powered network.

A new local operator

Europorte 2’s development projects fi rmly position this new operator as a local player, complementing established operators. In the short term, it will offer short- and medium-distance services (such as same-day return trips from Coquelles), collaboration with long distance operators on little-travelled or low-density routes and, finally, linking to private industrial and terminal connections. As with its ground operations at Frethun and its Tunnel traction, Europorte 2 offers its future customers a simple and efficient service.

In June 2007, Eurotunnel and the Port Autonome de Dunkerque (PAD) signed a strategic partnership with the intention of developing a coordinated approach to rail freight activities.

Eurotunnel and the PAD together manage major infrastructures on the French north coast which, in 2007, transported over 70 million tonnes of freight by road, rail and sea. The combination of land and sea ports means that there are many opportunities to share complementary knowledge and areas of common interest.